The Thermodynamic Ocean Modeling System (TOMS) is based on the hydrodynamic upper ocean model by Jensen (1991; 1993), but extended as described below.
The model is using an Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian vertical coordinate, which predicts a new Lagrangian layer thickness each time step. Based on physical and numerical criteria, the layer thickness is adjusted (i.e. remapped) and the associated mass, heat and salt fluxes between layers are computed. This makes it a hybrid between an isopycnal model and a z-coordinate model.
In addition to prognostic equations for layer thickness and average layer velocities, temperature, salinity and tracers may be included for some or all of the layers. The optional bulk mixed layer formulation is based on formulations by McCreary and Kundu, (1989) and Oberhuber (1992). It includes an equilibrium equation for turbulent kinetic energy produced by wind, convection and shear at the base of the mixed layer. Subsurface mixing is determined by shear production, based on a Richardson number, and vertically unstable profiles are fully mixed by convective adjustment. Bottom topography can be efficiently included in the lowest layer using a gravity wave retardation technique (Jensen, 1996).
Development of TOMS has been funded by U.S. Department of Energy's
CHAMMP
project
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Tommy G. Jensen tjensen@hawaii.edu
Last update: December 1, 1999